Whose Flag Is This, Anyway?

Starting about the time of early Ronald Reagan, the Republican Right played capture-the-flag with Old Glory. If you were a true patriot, you gave all your speeches before massed American flags and wore the symbol of one in your lapel. And, of course, to be a true patriot meant also that you were a member of the Republican Right. No other Americans admitted to the brotherhood and sisterhood of patriotism.

Predictably, this would come to an accusation -- what substitutes for serious debate these days -- that Senator Barack Obama was not wearing a flag pin and therefore, ipso facto, was no patriot.

So, here's a modest proposal. All of us who support Barack Obama for president should now wear flag pins. This will signal that we are all just as patriotic as anyone on the right. And it will signal that we are all for Obama. If we all do this, then when we see a flag pin we will know we are seeing another Obama supporter.

Go right out now and buy a pocketful of flag pins. Give them to all your friends. Show your support for America and for Obama. I've got mine on. It's our flag too!

But, you might ask, what about those flag wavers on the right? That's their problem.

Comments

[Antdevamp]

Word is born! Well spoken. I know where Gary is coming from, and I know where the guys who are buying the 'Obama' flag pin are coming from, but this is a game of falsehood from start to finish, and I refuse. Obama's acquiesence to this game must burn, people, BURN. I am certain if he could duck the topic in any way but compliance he would do it. I don't think dumb displays of hatriotism modeled on the republicans overcompensating after 9/11 is going to help anything.

I'll go one further....I have the same relationship to America and it's policies that Michelle Obama did on that fateful day when she uttered you know what.

I am a veteran of three wars, and I will not wear a flag pin or any other false symbolism of my true patriotism. Patriotism requires only my paying taxes, voting and standing up for the rights of Americans of all hues and stations.

[jfor]

I don't need no stinking flag pin.... I got what most republicans don't, a DD-214

[breakfast]

What exactly does wearing a flag pin prove and why would anyone want to prove it?

[indypete]

It proves that yer a real God-fearin' 'Merican and ya won't stand no nonsense from them atheistic commies and terrists! Kill 'em all, let God sort it out!

[paulbk]

I’ve never worn a flag pin and I’m suspicious of people who do. I think it’s cheap and easy patriotism. Almost as bad as those yellow “Support The Troops” magnets. There’s only one way to support the troops. Be one! And give somebody a day off.

I’m sixty years old, veteran U.S. Navy 1968-74 ballistic missile submarines.

fyi.... I have four “Obama 08” bumper stickers on my Honda. I think that’s good enough.

paul kramarchyk, Barkhamsted, Connecticut

[dapperd72]

Thanks for your service, Paul. I certainly agree with your general premise, but I'll register my comments separately. I think you may have overdone it with the Obama `08 stickers. One should be plenty, and give the rest to your friends or neighbors. I know Obama has his military support credentials fully intact. He eloquently describes the moral influence of his maternal grandfather's service in WWII on his own upbringing and that of his mother. One needn't be a veteran to understand the significance of their (your) service to our freedoms, not to mention the critical responsibility to treat all veterans who served honorably (unlike the Abu Graib & similar scandals) when they return in wnatever condition. War is Hell and veterans like McCain who may exploit this status to add brownie points to their resumes ought to know this when they condescend to competitors like Obama.

[Startreklivz]

paulbk, you're right, the yellow ribbons are easy, and show neither patriotism nor support for troops.

I'm against the war, but for the troops.

Let's skip the flag pins, and do genuinely patriotic things, like annoy our congresspeople & senators to end the war and fund veterans' benefits, investigate the Shrub, and work for candidates who will genuinely represent We the People

[gaila]

Love the Constitution pin idea, Laocoon. What we really need is a national discussion about what it means to truly be patriotic - and not one led by Faux News. I consider myself to be patriotic because since my late teens I've always paid the taxes I owed (unlike at least a few conservatives) and have voted in most state and national elections. Those are the things I was told were our civic duties while I was growing up. Not once did anyone ever say, "Display your patriotism at all times by singing and chanting about how great America is and wearing our flag's colors, and never, NEVER criticize our government - not when it's run by Republicans, anyway - because that would mean you're unpatriotic and hate our country!" Actually, I think we were told those were the rules in the (at the time) Soviet Union. So, as an adult I'm supposed to observe the standards of a system that we were told during childhood was all wrong! You can understand why we post-boomers / Gen X'ers are a little confused.

[2liveNdie]

All this stupid discussions and topics on flag pins!

I watch the news networks everyday and never see McCain or any other Republicans wearing a flag pin, but the bitch and whine when Sen. Obama doesn't!!! B S

[DatelessNerd]

This nation was founded by the likes of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.

It's time for smart people to take our flag back.

[indypete]

Why bother... they'll only find a way to twist it and use it against us, it's what they do best.

[Teckwreck]

Someone further down the line suggested a constitution pin. Now that is the way to go! I suggest that someone start manufacturing these next week and have them made exclusively by disabled vets, and virgins. We can all get begind these folks. All profits to go to support the constitutional amendment to require an IQ test before you can be elected to public office…

[returnofthejedi]

A Constitution Pin.............Now I love that Idea. What does the Flag mean without the Constitution to go with it!

[indypete]

IQ test, great idea! I would suggest further that the required qualifications for president also include a PhD in economics plus a masters or better in government. No more amateurs running the show!

[folksonomy]

I think I'd wear a flag pin if I knew it was made in the U.S.A. by Americans who are receiving good wages and health benefits at the factory where they're being produced. Yeah.

I just don't get how wearing a flag lapel pin automatically registers one as "patriotic". There definitely was a time in our country's formative years where flag pins were not yet manufactured. How did we determine one's loyalty to their country before the flag lapel pin came into vogue?

Is this column by Mr. Hart supposed to be satire?

[oafishcad]

Good point. Most flag pins are probably made in China.

[BlueOnBlue]

We went one better. One of our volunteers had special flag pins made with the name "Obama" below the flag.

[workinman]

Where? How much? Come on and make some money! I'm in.

[bbbear]

Good idea Gary! Thank you for returning our flag!

I've disagreed with our government since Vietnam... But the flag still meant something to me, remindng me of AF pals lost on missions. Hell, even today when I'm on the base and everything stops as the flag is lowered, I still get goose bumps...

But when Bush and crew started wearing those pins it sickened me. He stole our flag, making it into a symbol of neo con fascism. Taps still got to me, but no way in hell I'd even remotely buy into Dubya's slant on the flag..

But thanks to you, I'll buy a few flag pins and wear them next to my Obama 08 button!

Fired Up And Ready To Go!

[waltontynerross]

Why not armbands? Big red ones with a white circle with our flag in the middle. Ummm. Perfect!!

Come on, Gary. You can't be serious. Wear an "Obama" pin if you want to show your support for Barrack. Or put a sticker on your car or a sign your window. Better yet sign up to register folks or get out the vote.

We don't need no stinkin' flag pins!

[Indepatriot]

I might take you up on this if someone can tell me how to find a lapel flag that's made in the USA.

[Xihuitl]

What an incredibly stupid idea. So what then? Everybody who doesn't wear a flag pin is against Obama? Flag pin makers make a lot of money? We focus on flag pins? Join the whole profound flag pin debate? It's not enough that Obama rolled over pandering on the flag pin? Now we all do it?

[ICanHasDemocracy]

...as long as they're made in the USA!